Collapsible chair device



Aug. 13, 1968 J. LEIMGRUBER 3,397,010

COLLAPS IBLE CHAIR DEVICE Filed Oct. 19, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JOHN LE/M GIN/BER ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,397,010 COLLAPSIBLE CHAIR DEVICE John Leimgruber, 801 N. Temple Blvd., Temple, Pa. 19560 Filed Oct. 19, 1966, Ser. No. 587,760 8 Claims. (Cl. 297-174) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A collapsible chair device comprising a base frame for supporting a seat having a pair of legs, and a pair of clamp elements for releasably attaching with a supporting body each respectively pivotally received over a respective one of the legs of the base frame. A front support frame is provided including a bottom rod with first and second ends each of which extends through a respective clamp element and the leg of the base frame for fixing the position of its corresponding clamp element along its leg. The clamp elements and support frame are pivotal for allowing the chair device to assume a collapsed position, and may be moved to their upright positions for being secured and interlocked for use as a chair device.

The invention relates to a collapsible chair device, more particularly to a collapsible chair device for an infant or child adapted for being secured by clamping with a supporting structure such as a table ledge.

Although infants and childrens chairs have heretofore been provided, such devices have not been made of components which may readily be assembled and disassembled without the use of securing means such as bolts, rivets and other such devices, while providing a rugged, durable and completely collapsible chair device.

Therefore, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a new and improved collapsible chair device which may readily be assembled, disassembled and collapsed or set for use, and which does not require the use of bolts, and other such fastening means in assembling and disassembling.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved collapsible chair device which is highly durable, easily manufactured from standard components and which is low in cost.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved collapsible chair device which provides support for an infant or child, in safety, while removably attached to a supporting structure such as the ledge of a table.

The above objects of the invention as well as many other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a collapsible chair device having a base frame of U configuration providing a pair of legs and supporting a seat, and a pair of clamp elements for releasably attaching with a supporting body, each respectively being pivotally received over a respective one of the legs of the base frame. A front support frame is also provided which has a bottom rod with first and second ends which respectively extend through one of the clamp elements and a leg of the base frame for fixing the position of the clamp element along its leg of the base frame. Each of the clamp elements is provided with a slot which receives therethrough a respective one of the ends of the bottom rod of the from supporting frame and which slot limits the pivotal motion of the clamp element about its leg of the base frame to provide a terminal position in ice which said clamp elements are substantially vertical to said rod and parallel to each other, and also allowing said clamp elements to assume collapsed positions proximate to each other. The front support frame includes an inverted U member with a horizontal top portion and a pair of side portions having their bottom ends secured with the bottom rod and being pivotable with the bottom rod about the rod ends from a horizontal collapsed position proximate and parallel to the base frame to its extended position substantially vertical to the legs of the base frame. The side portions of the front support frame each engage a respective one of the clamp elements and spread apart the clamp elements under tension for being secured and interlocked therewith when the clamp elements are in their vertical terminal positions and the front support frame is moved from its collapsed posi tion into its extended position for rigidly positioning and securing said elements and front support frame in their vertical upstanding positions, while selectively allowing same to be readily returned to their collapsed positions. The device also includes a back rest frame having a pair of ends received respectively in back openings of the base frame for pivotal movement between a collapsed position proximate to the base frame and a terminal position vertical to the base frame, said back rest frame being detachable from the base frame by spreading apart the ends of the back rest frame. From this construction it is noted that the components of the collapsible chair device may readily be assembled and disassembled without the use of bolts, nuts and other such items and that the chair device may readily be collapsed for storage and transportation and thereafter easily set up by movement of its components for use as a chair device.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the following detailed description of the invention is read in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FGURE 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible chair device embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view similar to that of FIGURE 1 showing the device in its collapsed condition;

FIGURE 3 is a right side elevational view of FIG- URE l of reduced size, illustrating the device secured with the ledge of a table structure;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary View of a portion of FIGURE 2 illustrating theremoval from the base frame of the clamping element and the end of the bottom rod of the front support frame;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 77 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged sectional View taken on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 99 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of the base frame of the device shown in FIGURE 1.

Like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views.

Refer to the figures, which disclose a collapsible chair device 10 embodying the invention.

The collapsible chair device 10 comprises a base frame 12 which may be made of a hollow, t-uzbular metallic material formed into a substantially U configuration having a pair of legs 14 and 16 with respective ends 18 and 20.

The base frame 12 is provided with a transversed portion 22 at its bottom joining the legs 14 and 16 at their ends 24 and 26.

A pair of clamping elements 28 and 38 may have a body cast of a metallic material, preferably of light weight, and are each provided with a lower portion 32 having an opening extending therethrough for being received over the respective ends 18 and 20 of the legs 14 and 16 of the base frame 12. The intermediate portion 34 of each of the clamping elements 28, 30 provides an opening 36 (see FIGURE 9) extending transversely between the bottom portion 32 and the top portion 38, having a non-circular cross-section including opposite flat regions 48. A clamping bolt or screw 42 which is provided with a clamping disc 44 at its top, is slideably received through each of the openings 36 of the respective clamping elements 28, 30. The clamping bolts or screws 42 are threaded along their length and are each provided with two oppositely positioned flat sides 46 conforming with the flattened portions 40 of the opening 36 and preventing rotation of the clamping screws 42 within the openings 36 of the clamping ele ments 28, 30. Each screw 42 is provided with an advancing nut 48 which threadedly engages the screw 42 and rests upon the horizontal surface 50 of its elements 28, 30 for positioning the clamping disc 44 by rotation of the nut 48.

The top portion 38 of each of the clamping elements 28, 30 provides a bottom surface 52 (see FIGURE which is positioned over the clamping disc and may be covered with a cork lining material. The top surface of the clamping disc 44 may also be similarly covered by such a lining material to minimize damage to the body which may be clamped therebetween.

Each of the clamping elements 28, 30 provides at its top portion 38 a rearwardly extending member 54 to provide a side arm rest. The member 54 may comprise a hollow metallic tubular member having its front end 56 received into an opening (not shown) provided in the top portion 38 for being secured therewith. The other end 58 of the member 54 may be provided with an enclosing plastic cap 60 in the well-known manner.

The ends 18 and 20 of the legs 14 and 16 respectively of the base frame 12 are each provided with aligned openings 62 (see FIGURES 4 and extending through their inwardly facing walls. The clamping elements 28, 30 are each provided in their bottom portions 32 with a respective transverse slot 64, 66 (see FIGURE 1), whereby they may be respectively aligned with the openings 62 of the base frame 12.

A front support frame 68 comprises a bottom rod '70 and an inverted U-shaped member 72 having a horizontal top portion 74 and a pair of side portions 76 with bottom ends 78 which may be secured as by welding (see FIG- URES 1 and 7) with the bottom rod 70.

The end 80 of the rod 70' (see FIGURES 1 and 4) extends through the slot 64 of the clamping element 28 into the opening 62 in the end 18 of the base frame 12. The opposite end 82 (see FIGURE 6) of the bottom rod 70 which is linearly in alignment therewith also extends through the slot 66- of its corresponding clamping element 30 and through the opening 62 in the leg 16 of the base frame 12. Referring to FIGURE 10 it is noted that in order for the bottom rod 70 of the front support frame 68 to assume its assembled position, the frame 12 when being assembled must have its legs 14, 16 and its respective ends 18, spread apart for receiving the ends 80, 82 of the bottom rod 70. When the front support frame 68 is thus positioned with the base frame 12, the ends 80, 82 of the bottom rod 70 act against the inside surfaces of the outwardly facing walls 84 of the ends 18, 20 of the base frame 12 to keep these ends spread apart under tension as shown by the dashed lines 12' and 70' of FIGURE 10, thereby maintaining these components securely positioned together, but allowing their ready release and re- 4 moval by the exertion of a spreading force upon the ends 18, 2t) of the frame 12. Of course, the base frame 12 is made of a material providing sufficient resilience to allow same to be thus spread apart for assembling, disassembling and maintaining the components in their assembled relationship.

The ends and 82 of the bottom rod 70 of the front support frame 68 in its assembled relationship, respectively serve to fix the positions of the clamping elements 28, 30 along their respective ends 18, 20 of the legs 14, 16 of the base frame 12. The slots 64, 66 respectively of the clamping elements 28, 30 allow the clamping elements to pivot about their ends 18, 20 between the collapsed position shown in FIGURE 2 and the terminal upright position illustrated by FIGURE 1. Thus, in assuming the collapsed position, the clamping elements 28, 30 move towards each other as illustrated by the arrows 86 of FIGURE 6 to lie proximate each other and the base frame 12 providing a compact configuration. The clamping elements 28, 30 can be moved into their collapsed position only after the front support frame 68 is pivoted about its ends 80, 82 from its vertical upstanding position shown in FIGURE 1 to its collapsed position proximate the base frame 12, illustrated in FIGURE 2,

When positioning the clamping elements 28, 30 from their collapsed position shown in FIGURE 2, into their upright positions, the bottom ends 88 (see FIGURE 7) of each of the slots 64, 66 of the clamping elements 28, 30 engages a respective end 80, 82 of the bottom rod 70 of the front support frame 68 providing a stop or terminal position. With the front support frame 68 still in its collapsed position, the dashed lines 54 of FIGURE 6 show the upright positions assumed by the extending side arm rests of the top portion 38 of the clamping elements 28, 30. When the front support frame 68 is moved from its collapsed position towards its upright position, its side portions 76 at 92 engage the intermediate portions 34 of the clam-ping elements 28, 30 at its region 94 (see FIG- URES 1 and 5), spreading the clamping elements 28, 30 apart under tension. Further movement of the front support frame 68 towards its upright position causes its portions 92 to pass over and beyond an extending projection 96 of the clamping elements 28, 30 for securely interlocking and retaining the front support frame 68 in its upright position. Further forward motion is prevented by the front ridge 98 of the clamping elements 28, 30 while rearward motion is restrained by the projection 96. Thus, the clamping elements 28, 30 are held apart under tension while the front support frame 68 is interlocked in its upright position maintaining a spreading force on the clamping elements thereby providing said device 10 with means for being retained in its set up position without the use of bolts, screws, and other such fastening and positioning means. The from support frame 68 may readily be released and caused to assume its collapsed position by the spreading apart of the clamping elements 28, 30 so that the side portions 76 clear the projections 96 in their rearward movement.

The base frame 12 supports a seat 100 which may rest upon the leg portions 14, 16 and be detachably secured therewith by loops or bands 102 (see FIGURE 6) passing around the legs 14, 16.

The collapsible tchair device 10 may also be provided with a back rest 104 comprising a back rest frame 106 made of a suitable metallic rod material. The frame 106 has an inverted substantially U confimlration with a top horizontal portion 108 and side leg portions 110. The bottom of the leg portions 110 are each provided with a saddle-like portion 112 (see FIGURE 8) which extends about and under the outside of the leg portion for positioning the back rest 104 in its upright, uncollapsed position. The sides 110* are also each provided with inwardly extending ends 114 which are received through openings 116 on the outside portion of the legs 18, 20

respectively, proximate the transverse portion 22 of the base frame 12. This allows the back rest 104 to be pivoted about its ends 114 toward its collapsed position as shown in FIGURE 3 overlying the front support frame 68 in its collapsed position, and proximate to the base frame 12. When the back rest 104 is moved from its collapsed position towards its upright position, the saddle portions 112 snap into engagement about the legs 18, 20 respectively of the base frame for positioning and maintaining the back rest in its upright condition. The back rest frame 106 may readily be removed or attached to the base frame 12 by spreading the ends 114 apart for removing or replacing same from or into the openings 116 of the base frame. Of course, the metallic material of which the frame 106 is made provides the required resilience for this purpose.

The frame 106 may receive thereover cover means 118 which may also provide desired padding for the back rest 104.

In operation, when the collapsible chair device which is in its collapsed position as shown in FIGURE 2 is to be used, the clamping elements 28, 30 are moved to their upright positions, after which the front support frame is raised to its upright, interlocking position with the clamping elements. The back rest 104 is then pivotally moved to its upright position so that the device is now in condition for use as shown in FIGURE 1. The screws 42 of the clamping elements 28, 30 may now be lowered by rotating the advancing nuts 48 to provide suflicient clearance between the bottom surface 52 and the clamping discs 44 so that a supporting structure 120 which may be the ledge of a table may be received therebetween. The nuts 48 of the clamping elements 28, 30 may now be rotated for raising the clamping discs 44 for securely fastening clamping elements 28, 30 with the structure 120 as clearly shown in FIGURE 3. Since the screws 42 as well as the clamping disc 44 will not rotate but will only be vertically advanced or lowered by the appropriate rotation of the nuts 48, a minimum of damage will be occasioned to the support structure, and easy tightening and loosening may be achieved by finger operation of the wings 122 on the nuts 48. When thus fastened to a supporting structure such as a table, the infants or childs chair device 10 provides a convenient supportable chair which will safely and conveniently support a child or infant at table level.

For the purposes of providing additional safety and convenience, the chair device 10 may be provided with side panels 124 which may be formed of a cloth material forming a loop which may be removably received over the tubular member 54 and having a bottom edge 126 which may be secured with the seat 100. A band 128 which also may be made of flexible material may also be provided having a top looped portion 130 received about the center of the top horizontal portion 74 of the front support frame 68 and extending vertically downward and about the center of the bottom rod 70 and then horizontally with its other end 132 secured with the bottom of the seat 102 (see FIGURES 1 and 6). The band 128 may be positioned between the legs of the infant or child for preventing the child from slipping out of the seat 100 of the device 10.

The collapsible chair device as above disclosed may be made of light weight materials or metals so that it is easily carried, and is collapsible to a small size, so that it may readily be transported for use at various locations. The simplicity of operation as well as the manner in which the device may be assembled and disassembled, collapsed and set up for operation, also provide great advantages in addition to other advantages which will be apparent from the above disclosure.

Of course, it will be understood that the description and drawings, herein contained, are illustrative merely, and various modifications and changes may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A collapsible chair device comprising a base frame for supporting a seat having a pair of legs, a pair of clamp elements for releasably attaching with a supporting body each respectively pivotally received over a respective one of the legs of said base frame, and a front support frame including a bottom rod transversely extending between the legs of said base frame with first and second ends each extending through a respective clamp element and leg of said base frame for fixing the position of its corresponding said clamp element along its said leg.

2. The device of claim 1 in which the legs of said base frame are each provided with a front opening for receiving a respective end of the bottom rod of said front support frame, and the bottom rod of said front support frame when positioned with the ends engaging the respective front openings in the legs of said base frame acts to spread apart said legs for retaining together said front support frame and said base frame.

3. The device of claim 2 in which each of said clamp elements is provided with a slot receiving therethrough a respective one of the ends of the bottom rod of said front support frame limiting the pivotal motion of said clamp element about its leg of said base frame to provide a terminal position in which said clamp elements are substantially vertical to said rod and parallel to each other, and allowing said clamp elements to assume collapsed positions proximate to each other.

4. The device of claim 3 in which said front support frame includes an inverted U member with a horizontal top portion and a pair of side portions having their bottom ends secured with said bottom rod and being pivotable with said bottom nod about said rod ends from a horizontal collapsed position proximate and parallel to said base frame to its extended position substantially vertical to the legs of said base frame, the side portions of said front support frame each engaging a respective one of said clamp elements and spreading apart said clamp elements under tension for being secured and interlocked therewith when said clamp elements are in their vertical terminal positions and said front support frame is moved from its collapsed position into its extended position for rigidly positioning and securing said elements and front support frame in their vertical upstanding positions and selectively allowing same to be readily returned to their collapsed positions.

5. The device of claim 4 in which said base frame has a substantially U configuration with a transverse portion joining its legs at its bottom and also has a back opening in each of its legs proximate the transverse portion, and including a back rest frame having a pair of ends received respectively in the back openings of said base frame for pivotal movement between a collapsed position proxi mate said base frame and a terminal position vertical to said base frame, said back rest frame being detached from said base frame by spreading apart the ends of said back rest frame.

6. The device of claim 5 in which each of said clamp elements has a bottom portion with an opening therethrough for removably receiving a respective end of a leg of said base frame, an intermediate portion with a transversely extending opening slidably but non-rotatingly receiving a clamping screw therethrough with a top clamping disc and a screw advancing nut, and a top portion providing a top clamping surface over said clamping disc of said clamping screw and a rearwardly extending member providing a side arm rest.

7. The device of claim 6 including a seat supported by said base frame, a pair of side panels removably secured respectively between a side arm rest of said clamp element and a respective leg of said base frame, and a removable band member extending from the center of the 3,397,010 7 8 horizontal top portion of said front support frame to said References Cited seat, and means covering said back rest frame. IT D PATENTS 8. The device of claim 7 in which said base frame and UN E S ES side arm rests are composed of hollow metallic tubular 2,540,672 2/1951 Holmes 248226.1 X material, and said front support frame and back rest 5 2,633,900 4/1953 Davis 248-2261 X frame are composed of metallic tubular material, each 2,710,643 6/1955 Wincey et al. 297l74 of said frames providing sufficient resilience to allow said 3,126,226 3/1964 Johnson 297 174 device to be assembled and disassembled by spreading 3 253 3 0 5 1955 Shapiro 297 174 X said frames whereby said device does not require the use i of bolts, rivets or other such fastening and securing means. 10 JAMES T McCALL, Primary Examiner. 

